Good Health is Underrated: My experience with Malaria

I had the first symptoms of malaria last year November, we were preparing for my sister's wedding. We all had malaria, I was the only male child so I had to be responsible, moving from here to there, packing and buying things needed for the wedding which was one week near while mom and sisters got treated. I didn't get the chance to get treated even after the wedding; I traveled back to school on Monday immediately after wedding.

I thought I've got strong white blood cells to fight Malaria until it shocked me.

It all started on a Monday which was a holiday, but two lectures were fixed on that day. I dressed up and went to school without eating because I thought the lectures wouldn’t be boring and stressful.

About 60% of the whole students showed up for the first fixed lecture and the lecturer taught without stress (it seemed the noise makers weren't around). He taught us fibre, types of fibres and their importance in animal feed; the lecture lasted for just 2 hours. The next lecturer to take us AGB321 (Animal Breeding and Genetics) was in the lecture hall already so there was no break.

From nowhere, students started trooping in like ants to sugar. The noise from them trying to adjust their seats was disturbing; they were obviously the noise makers. We learnt about Penetrance and Expressivity which was quite easy to understand because the lecturer was explaining and relating it to our understanding.

There wasn't a single cab in the school because it's a holiday so, my friends and I had to trek to the school gate which was a 30min+ walk then, another trek from the school gate to our hostel, another 25min+ ( I was so tired). I got home then headed to @starstrings01 hostel to learn and gist. He welcomed me well and offered me food😋😋,we had a refreshing conversation about life and how important having a digital skill is in this era.

The headache started an hour later in starstrings01 hostel when I was creating a Twitter space design for a client, I wanted to meet up with the deadline (it was an urgent request). I left starstrings01 hostel past 9pm and got home almost 10pm and I continued the design immediately. I stopped after while because I couldn't bear the pains in my eyes. It became headache and eye ache

Fast forward to Tuesday, I went to school for lecture and an E-test. The class was cancelled so I waited in school with my friends till it was time for the test around 10am. We had to stay on a long queue under a very angry sun, 45mins+ had gone and we were still on the queue. I became dizzy and I told the guy behind me that I was dizzy and needed to rest( he was considerate) so, I took shelter under a small tree not far from the queue.

An hour later, I got inside the hall, sat down facing the computer and I said a short prayer before starting my test. I was done within 20 minutes, came outside the hall, met my friends and walked fast to the car park. Before getting to the car park, I felt dizzy again so rested beside a building to wait for my friends who I had left behind. Boluwatife, one of my friends had to give me few taps on my back while the rest were saying “oh sorry Samuel”.

I got home and I felt as if something was pounding inside my head, then I had catarrh and
sore throat from no where. I forced myself to eat then slept off for 2 hours, I woke up with swollen eyelids( I couldn't see well ) but my friends were already beside me when I woke up, a lady and a guy. The lady (Tolani) went to get me drugs , prescribed my situation to the pharmacist( I couldn't even stand on my feet) and bought extra mint candy for the sore throat.

I skipped school the next day (Wednesday) and my friend (Tolani) didn't leave me, she also skipped school ( that really touched me😊). At night she prepared dinner, Amala and egusi soup and I was forced to finish the small portion of the food I was given. The next day (Thursday) I called my parents to inform them that I wasn't feeling too well but I'm already getting better ( I said that to ease them of worrying about me). My Dad sent me some money for drugs which I had already bought with the money I got from Twitter Space design.

It was Friday morning, I felt better but still weak and had some muscle pains. I skipped school again because I had to take good care of myself and was sure school activities would be too stressful. In the evening, I went to Tolani’s room with a face cap ( had to hide my swollen eyelids), we talked with my other friend (Ayo) till past 9pm then we had dinner and I was forced to finish the portion of food I was given again. I left for my room 11pm to sleep.

Next day which was Saturday, I woke up almost perfect and I was grateful to God because the last few days weren't funny at all😞😓. I felt better and could see clearly because my eyelids went back to the normal size. I sent a message to my Music Director that I won't attend church rehearsal because I needed more rest and I was permitted.

Sunday!! I got to church and I received several heartfelt welcome greetings from my friends and Music Director. I played the bass guitar for the worship session that morning in church and I played so well to show my gratitude to God😇. One of my boss bought me a toasted bread and a Chapman drink to encourage me to play better.

Thanks to GOD 🙏 I'm glad that I am now healthy and strong. I've learnt that absence of sound health affects almost everything in one's life. Y'all should take care of your health too

I'm back to designing

My recent design, a flyer design for a cake brand.